Apparatus for loading and unloading enameling furnaces



June 3, 1930. L. J. s'rEvl-:NsoN 1,761,996

APPARATUS FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING ENAMELING FURNACES l 9 sheet-sheet Filed Oct, 18, 1926 Nb QW Y ab Nh. W9 NO .N0 m6 u.

9 sheets-sheet 2 I June 3, 1930. L. J. sTEvENsoN APPARATUS FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING ENAMELING FURNACES Filed oet. 18, i926 L. J, sTEvENsoN 1,761,996

APPARATUS FOR LDING-AND UNLOADING ENAMELING FURNACES Fjid ont. 18, 192e 9 sheets-sheet 5 June 3, 1930- IIIIIIIIIII- afl Inliul llrlra Jullie 3K, 1930.

| J. sTEvENsoN APPARATUS FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING ENAMELING FURVACES 9 Sheets-*Sheet 4 Filed oct. 18, 1926 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYJZ June. 3, 1930. 1 J. sTEvENsoN APPARATUS FOR LOADING AND NLOADING ENAMELING FURNACES 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 y. EN TOR. y

Filed 0G13. 18, 1926 A MM v 0 b.. mw mm. O\ m.

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QQ @Y June 3, 1930.` 1,761,996

APPARATUS FOR LOADING AND UNLQADING ENAMELING FURNAcEs` J.. sTEvENsoN 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR'..`

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Filed 001;. 18, 1926 QQN @QN QMI .lime l1930.-

' .1J. STEVENSON APPARATUS FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING ENAMELING FURNACES 9 Sheecs-Shee'c 7 Filed Oct. 18, 1926 N N A im Il am /V /6 n NMI! am mu, MM. u. o, o///, f ww A TT ORNE Y6 June 3, 1930. L. J. sTEvENsoN 1,761,996

' APBARATUSVFOR LOADING AND UNLOADINGENAMELING FURNAcEs Filed Oct.' 18, 1926 i 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 MIM/l 'A TTORNEYJ;

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n svn@ June 3, 1930.` L. J; sTEvENsoN APPARATUS FOR LOADING ND UNLOADING ENAMELING FURNAGES Filed Oct. 18. 1926 9 Sheets-Sheet' 9 INVENTOR.

A TToRNEx/f 'Paiemed June 3, 1930 ENAMEL a MANUFACTURING MARYLAND '1 v APPARATUS The invention relatesto amethod andapparatus for charging and unloading ena-melf ing furnaces vand has for its objects to pro- I vide certain new and useful improvements lriages,

over similar devices heretofore` used, aswell as obtaining various economies and advantages Which result in an appreciable saving in'time,lab'or and fuel as Well asy resulting ina baked or hardened enameling product of higher or improved quality.

In machines ofthe general character typied by `the present improvements, and

designed for useinicharging and unloading enamelingfurnaces, in order toobtain at relatively high temperatur-esa vitreous coat? ing of baked and hardened enamel, vcertain disadvantages have been kpresent and have hitherto been considered unavoidable.vv It is usual in machinesl of this character to provide a longitudinally reciprocable fork member immediately in front of the charging door of the furnace,`and this fork member in certain machines, cooperates yWith one or more transversely movable carriages which ,are 'desA signed to be moved lnto. proximity With the fork'to enable the latterto remove a vplurality of unbakedarti'cles from saidcarby the fork Within the heating chamber of the furnace., Thel fork is Withdrawn from the furnace until the baking process is completed, after Whi'chithe fork is reinserted Y to'remove the. bakedfarticles and is retracted from lthe, furnace into proximityY with one of Asaid transfer carriages to deposit the baked articles Y thereupon, 4after Which` said carriages are' manually :moved transversely t from proximity to .the fork. and the baked scribed it has been usualand necessary 'to after which thearticles are deposited l ing Vfrom sudden displacement,I

f1 me OFFICE;

LAWRENCE J.V sTEvnnso'N, or'iAtTrMoan, MARYLAND, Assfreno'n To THE rononLAIn y oo., or BALTIMORE, MABYLANn'A ooaroaATioN or non LoAnrNe AND' UNLoAnrne ENAMELING F'URNACES i "Appueaaoxi and nemer:18,.,1526; serial No., 142,350;

ingthe fork from the'l furnace with or Withl outv the baked articleS'suppOrted thereupon.

-T-hismovement of-theftransfer carriage is necessary to prevent the fork ,froml colliding with the transfer' carriage which,

woulda-result in the articles .being either displacedor jarrechoif of the fork,- or displacedorjarred from .the carriage;y In either event breakagefor damage. tothe articles is ,likely to occur andrv smooth vand efficient operation ofthe-apparatusis interfered .with and delayed. To avoid this vundesirable result it has been ycustomaryto first move the transfer carriage out of lproxafter the shifting'movement, bothbeforey and r at the completion of the baking operation.

These e-Xtramovemen'ts on theipart of the carriage require additional time andmanual sulting heat and fuellosses.

lor-lr exposed, for alongerperiod, With re further disadvantage incident-to ma` lchines of this v'character is thatitheforvvard r7! labor as Wellfasrequiring thefurnace k,door i to remain open and the grate carried bytheV s i end of the y.fork :member is often tilted dovvn- Wardly .when projected into ithe furnace` resulting ingarring the articles andtheatend consequent -'faulty; andA uneven distributionl on the supporting ledgesofvthe furnaceas Well as possible loss Qfjorfdamage to'the artif Vcles both'while in the furnacechamber and during their subsequent removal and trans- :fer to the transversely movable carriage." In

machines of this characterit is highlyessen` tial that the articles behandled ybythe va- V.rinus portions of the apparatus and 'deposited and removed fr om the furnacewith ,a minimum lof jarring, and this is'vv necessary not only because the freshly coated articles must be kept free from smears and streaksv resultbut the aray9o Y cles must preserve their arrangementen their paratus.

imity to the fork to v permit the latter to be 65 shifted, and, replace the .transfer carriage'" ency for the latterto-slip forwardly with -5d?"- l disposed supporting bars on the carriers in machines or apparatus heretofore employed, requires extra movement of these carriages andV extra operations of the fork mechanism, as heretofore pointed out and with the stated disadvantages.

A vrincipal object of the present inventionV is to provide a method and apparatus for charging enameling furnaces with freshly coated ware and removing the baked articles therefrom in rapid and continued sequence in such manner as to obviate the stated disadvantages incident to known methods and apparatus, and eliminating the fuel, heat and labor losses heretofore present in such niachines.. The present invention contemplates the elimination of the described extra movements on the part of the carriers and the-fork 'proper by rendering it unnecessary to shift the carriers-out of proximity to the fork prior to shiftingthe latter in either direction, and vice-versa?.

Y A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus of the character described by which the articles are deposited and removed from the furnace evenly and simultaneously without jarring 'or displaceflment, and by which any tendency of the fork lmember to tilt is effectively prevented.

:A further object is to provide a method and apparatus of the character described in which the transfer carriers or carriages are "automatically operated by motor power instead of manually, and the fork member is' -re'ciprocated into and out of the furnace as wellllas elevated-.and lowered smoothly and with'a minimum of physical exertiom or the fork 'may 'be manipulated by the use of motor power. e

lA further object is to provide improved means for definitely maintaining the fork member in a horizontal position while raising and lowering the saine or while projecting the forkinto or out of the furnace.

A-further object is to provide improved means carried by the fork member for removing freshly coated articles from the carriers and depositing the saine in the furnace, said means being insured against warping 'and 'undue expansion when subjected to 'the furnace heat and further permitting the enameling or baking heat to obtain access to the Furthermore, the carriers have been.

verse vertical sectional view on entire area ofthe articles or ware to be coated with porcelain enamel.

l/Vith such objects in view, as well as other advantages which may be incident to the use of the improvements, the invention consists in the method and in the apparatus for carrying the same into effect hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements constituting the same may be varied in proportions and arrangement without departing from the nature and scope of theinvention.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood there are shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect, without limiting the improvements, in their useful applications, to the particular constructions which, Afor the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject 0f illustration. In the said drawings:

Figs. l and la constitute a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the machine, the enameling furnace for baking the articles being omitted. This furnace and its usual charging door is located opposite the machine or at the right hand of Fig. la.

Figs. 2 and 2a constitute together a side elevation of the machine, said view being taken looking from the upper or opposite side of Fig. l, showing the furnace and the longitudinally reciprocable furnace charging member or fork in its lowered position.

Figs. 3 and 3a constitute a similar view showing the fork member in its uppermost 0r raised position, with the fork partially projected towards the enameling furnace.

Figs. 4 and la together constitute a transline 4-4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section through the enameling furnace and showing the lmanner of supporting the articles to be hardened or baked. therein.

Fig. 6 is a plan view, diagrammatic in character, of the article transfer and charging apparatus constituting the invention, and illustrating thel method and successive steps employed in charging the furnace with green or unbaked material and removing the baked l articles from the furnace by means of the longitudinally reciprocable fork members and the transversely movable cooperating carriers.

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the fork 3' Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view on line *25 8-8 of Fig. 2. Y

Referring to the drawings, the base A of the machine supports the 4longitudinally reciprocable fork member C and its frame B; as

well as the transversely movable articletrans- Ff"liao l @aol fer carriages D, and said base consists. ofa pair if horizontally disposed. longitudinal channel members or beams 1, which are in turn spaced from the floor by meansof frontand reary supporting. standards 2 carrying vertical screw members or posts 3. The channel members 1 constituting "the base are Vvertically adjustable relative to the floor and the charging door of the furnace by means of said screw members which may be'turned by their squared portions 4 andylocked in adjusted position by means of lock or jam nuts 5 onthe -upper ends of said screw members and bearing against the top surface of the channel members 1. Suitable transverse members'v are provided between the longitudinal channel members 1 to reinforce the latter and constitute a rigid stationary base, said transverse members 6 being bolted asat 7 or otherwise rigidly secured to the channel members 1.

The. vertically movableiframe B for supporting the longitudinally reciprocable fork consists of a pair of spaced horizontally disposed longitudinal side frame members or beams constituting a track support 8 to which are bolted transverse frame members or beams 9.- -The Yfork supporting-frame kB is -mounted on the base A by means of bracket members 10 bolted or otherwise lsecured at 11 adjacent the four corners of the frame, each of said bracket members terminating in a depending ear portion pivotally secured at 12 to a crank lever 13, eachV crank lever in turn constituting part of a casting rigidly secured or keyedV to front and rear transverse rock shafts 14, 14L extending between and journaled in the channel beams lof: the base, A.

The rockshafts 14a. are providedwith round bearing port-ions. 15, 15a in theframe and. squared portions on which lfront and'rear Y parallel leversor members-16, 16a are-mountv ed to Yturn with the'shafts. The lever members 16, 16il are connected together by'upper and lower link members or rods 17 and 18 having-threaded engagement at. their ends with turnbuckles 19, 19a and 20, 2Oa which in turn are pivotally secured at 21 to the upper and lower ends of the levers 16, 16al The upper end of rocking parallel leverrlia has` pivotally secured thereto a link member or rod 22 threaded at one end into a turnbuckle 23 in turn pivot-ed at 24 to the leverl, and

When it is desired to elevate thefork sup-` porting frame B and the fork'carried thereby, hand lever 28 is swung or rocked rearwardly from the position illustrated in'Fig.`V 2a to the positionillustrated in Fig. 3-. 2Link- 22is thereby drawn' rearwardlyfto rock lever 16a Aand this motion is transmitted torocking i i .lever l16 .by means of the link members 17.and

18. This rocking imoveme'ntof levers =16and 16a land their respective shafts 14 and 14a elevates the frame members 8 by reasonv of y their pivotal connection at 12 with the'crank varms 13 rigidlyl secured tothe rock shafts.

This elevated position-of the fork supporting vframe B isshown in Figs. 3, 3a. The adjustable vor turnbuckle vconnections 19,192.20, 20 Vand 23 affordvmeans for varyingthe eX? tent of upward'travel-.ofthe frame, B according to and as d'eterminedbyy working conditions and the location@l of Ythe chargingdoor of the furnaceabove the ioor. The longitudinally reciprocablev vertically movable supportingframe Bfand .includes a pair of aligned-horizontally dis.

posed side framemembers which may consist y article- Vcarrying member `or fork C is carriedv by the of metallic I-beams 31 suitably connectedat g l `theirfrear ends by one or more transverse' members or bars 32. At itsrear endthe fork member is supportedH-bylianged wheels33:

suitably journaled in bearings 34 secured to ythe' I-beams 31 and at their forward ends the e -beams 31 are Vguided and supported for longitudinal reciprocation .on va pair ofrollers 35 suitably journaled on stud shafts 36 car ried by bearingv or bracketmembers 37which are 1n Vturn bolted orotherwise secured at 38 to the sideframe membersS of thefork sup portingtrack frame. The flangedwheels33 of .the 1 fork membeii-.aredesigned to travel upon-the sidel frame members`8 whichserve astracks forsaidl wheels. `The forkfmember isA illustrated in ,F igs. 3 and-.3n as partially projected toward the furnace with the .Wheels traveling upon the track formed by the side frame -Vmembers 8.1 In orderto insure against overbalancing and tilting of thefork .with its load whenvthe fork is movedto or approaches its projected position, guide members 3,9 are provided, one on each side of the 'machina said guide vmembers beingL supported iby posts or standards 40 secured as vby `bolts-41to said guide members and to the side frame Vmember's8 ofthe fork supporting 'A structure.l Said guide members39are pro-fy .vided with preferably integral inwardly projecting horizontal flanges -42 ,which `engage ithe upper periphery ofthe flanged; wheels 33 of the fork member when the lat# ter 1s projected into the furnace,to provide j van anti-friction rolling engagementand to .insure against anytilting movement of the fork, as will be clearly apparent. The forward or outer ends of the members n V31 ofthe forkare designedto support loosely thereon a plurality of link orloop members ,86 extendingtransversely `between the memf' f A bers 31. The'looplmembers 86 are preferably formed of metal or metallic alloy of .high .heat resistance andv fusingY temperatureV to enof baked and hardened enamel.

able said members to withstand the extremely 'high .temperature to which the interior of the furnace is raised when baking the enameled articles.' A plurality of longitudinally disposed members or bars 87 are provided and are designed to rest loosely upon the loop Vwith a plurality of spaced upwardly projecting pins or-points 88, which may be formed integrally with the bars 87, and which are adapted to support the articles to be baked in the combustion chamber of the enameling furnace 44. Any desired number of bars 87 may be provided 'according to the size and character of the articles to be enameled, said bars being placed in spaced parallel relation on the fork to rest loosely on and be supported by the transverse loop members 8G. In the embodiment illustrated two of the bars 87 are provided extending transversely of the loop members and longitudinally of the fork, said bars being adapted to supportby means of'their points 88 a plurality of articles or ware 89 of rectilinear dimensions and which are intended to be coated with enamel and thereafter baked in the furnace 44 to the desired degree of hardness. For example, the articles to be baked are illustrated as consisting of sheet metal table tops which are intended to be provided with the usual coating It will be understood, however, the present machine is designed and adapted to enamel a great variety of articles to be enameled and baked, Asuch as stove stampings or stampings or castings for refrigerator parts. The machine is designed for use in handling any type of diepressed sheet iron or metallic casting which is adapted to be suitably coated and thereafter'placed in a furnace for Vporcelainenameling. l

The enameling furnace is indicated at 44 and may be of the usual or preferred type for this purpose. The article or ware handling mechanism constituting the present invention is disposed in front of the furnace and in longitudinal alignment with the charging opening indicated at 45, which is normally closed by a vertically reciprocable or other suitably mounted door 46. The combustion or enameling chamber of the furnace is inlowered position as shown in Figs. 2, 2a

to its elevated position (Figs. 3, 3a). This movement is obtained by swinging operating lever 28 as has been described. In its lowered position the supporting frame B of the fork rests upon opposed hub portions 49 on the front and rear squared shafts 14 and 14a (Figs. 1 and 4). The hub portions 49 may be constituted of integral castings having the projecting lever arms 13 and also having offset arms 50 suitably recessed to receive projectingv arms 51 on .which are adjustably mounted suitable counterweight castings or members 52. The counterweights are adjustable on their supporting arms so as to delicately balance the fork C and its supporting frame B in such manner that a minimum effort is required to swing the hand lever 28 to elevate or lower the fork and its supporting structure. It will be further observed that, from va comparison of Figs. 2 and 3, the position of the counterweight members 52 is such that the same, due to gravity, tend to assist in elevating the fork to its upper position, Vand when the fork structure is lowered the tendency of said counterweight members is to retard the downward movement of the fork and its frame in such manner that a delicately balanced elevating and lowering movement is insured, and which may be obtained by slight physical exertion on the part of the operator.

l/Vhen in its elevated position (Figs. 8, 8a), the fork has been moved into alignment with the charging door of the furnace and above the shoulders 48 in the combustion chamber of said furnace. ln the embodiment illustrated, the Vfork C, consisting of the I-beams 81, is projected longitudinally into the furnace by means of a hand wheel 53 having an operating handle 54, said wheel being journaled in a suitable bracket 55 secured to one end of the fork supporting frame C. For eX- ample, said `bracket member is shown supported upon one of the transverse frame members 9 extending between the side members 8 of thev fork supporting frame. rlhe hand wheel 53 is or may be provided with a sprocket 57 which is connected by a sprocket chain'58 to a corresponding sprocket wheel 59 suitably keyed as at 60 on a transverse shaft 27 having bearings 61 in the frame member 8. A friction clutch member 62 is keyed or splined to said shaft and is provided with an operating handle 63 suitably pivoted at 64 to the transverse frame member 9. The clutch member 62 is designed to be longitudinally shifted on shaft 27 into and out of engagement with a companion friction clutch m-ember preferably constituted of a recessed portion in a drum 66 loosely mounted on drive shaft 27. A chain or cable 67 is secured at one end at 68 to a central depending lug` or bracket member 69 in turn bolted or secured to the transverse frame member 32 extending between the longitudinal members 31 of the l fork supporting Y* v fork C. The chainnor cable 67 passes over vand around the drum 66 and passes at its fori ward end -overan idler Wheel or pulley 70 journaled` cna bracket 71 in turn vsecured to one of the transverse frame members -9 eX-' tending between thefside members 8 of the frame B.. From Ythe idler pulley7() the cable 67 extends rearwardly and its rearend fis secured at 7 3 to the depending bracket member, 69 vof the fork.

From the described structure it willbe ap f parent that clutch lever 63 may be manually operated or shifted to establish a driving en gagement betweenfshaft 27 and drum 66. The rotation of hand wheel 53 in one direction revolves shaft 27 through sprocket wheels 57 and 59, and chain orbelt 58.` Drum 66 is therebyrev'olve'd to wind chain or cable 67 thereuporhV The fork member C ismoved vthe supportingtrack formed by the sidememf bers 8. rlhe forward end of the fork is guided by and runs' smoothly over the oppositely-disf posed idler wheels 35 also mounted on said side members 8 of the frame. For theffull extentofv its forward movement the fork vis prevented from tilting or becoming over-A balancedby means of the described continu- 'ous -anti-.friction engagement of the'wheels 3 6 carried by the fork membenwith the horiao'n'tal flanges of theA guide members 39 nioiiiited onrthe fork supporting frame. To withdraw the fork from the furnace hand wheel 53 is rotated in theopposite or a clockwise direction (Fig.l 3a) assuming clutch 62 tobe engaged, and the reverse winding of cable 67 on vthe drum 66 retracts the fork into its normal position remote-from kthe furnace in the same manner kas when pro-l jected into the furnaccby the opposite pull exerted by cable 67.

The transversely Vmovable carriages D which cooperate with the fork lin charging the furnace with fresh or `unbaked articles, and in removing bakedenameled articles from the. furnace, are be'stillustrate'din Figs. 4 and ea. The carriages D may 'beone or more in number," and in the presentembodiment ltwo suchcarriages are employed. Each carriage D preferably consists of apair of side frameY or channel members 74 suitably con- Anected by end frame members' 75, and having front and vrear'airlesl 76 carrying'flanged Wheels 77 designed to travel upon a pair of `traclrvvays 78 carried by supportsl or pedes tals'79 which in turn are bolted or mounted in anyf'desired mannerjupon base supports 80. The latter are suitably securedbyat-` taching plates yorybrackets 8l yto the base frame 1, the latter andfsaid supports being which maybe secured also carried by .thestandards 2. Thetwo central pedestal members 79'p71 may be secured at their lower ends directly to the side members 1 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4'). The track members 78 carried by the pedestals 7 9 may -befcom posed of individualsections pivotally coni; nected as at 82 (Fig,v 4g) lland, said trackisections may be as many'as desired according to .operating conditions and the dstanceto which itis desired to't'ransport the Yunbaked articles to the furnace; I

.. Each carriage D is Vprovided, rwith'fa,plu-

rality of `outwardly projecting spaced horlaontally. disposed articles'su'pporting bars 83 as by U-bolts 84 to the side and end frame members 7 et and75 of the carriage. The bars 86 extendtransversely to ythe direction of travel of the .carriage but lon gitudinally withy respect to theline of travel ofthe fork member, `and the!'carriages` are preferably. moved transversely into alignment with the fork member in .a manner to be described.

`The 'carriages D are intended totravelunder'theirown power when `desired onthel designed to be independently Y .90 transverse rails or track members 78. For f this purpose each carriage is provided with a motor 90fsecured in any appropriate manner l to the carriage, the .armature shaft of the Vmotor being .geared with suitable transnission and reduction gearing 91. From gear 91 a sprocket chain or belt 92 passes over and drives a pulley or sprocket Wheel 93rigizdly secured to one of the the carriage. The motor maybe energized sourcel of control and suitable reversing switches are provided to permit the carriages to travel in either directionon tlievtra'ckways 78. For example, an overhead trolley wheels or -shafts 76 of ,l 100. when desired preferably fromv a remote f system (not shown)Y may be included and opf eratively connected :to the motors 90 in any desired'. and well known mannenv Itis furinclude automatic or. motorized means for raising and lowering and reciprocating vthe fork G, said motorized connections being connected in anyappropriate manner to the ther'intended that-the present invention shall the; illustrated embodiment of thev invention.-

- ln the` operationofrtbe.L inventionone of the carriers D, vvhile in position atfone end f A articles ofware freshly Vcoated with enamel,

yof thetransverse trackway 78, is'loadedwith izo for, example with table tops 89, which yare placed onr the bars83 of the carrier preparatory4 to lbaking in the furnace, The. motor of the carrier is energized vuntil the ylatter has beeny niovedeinto a central'position Adirectly over the fork latter and its supporting structure. are in f member C. At this time the their normal downwardork lowered position v i and the fork properisin its normal retracted position, thesespecified locations of the elei ments being best seen in Fig. 2. The hand lever 28 is then moved by an operator to its rearmost position as seen in Fig. 8a and the fork C together with its supporting structure carried by the side members 8, are elevated to their uppermost position through the link and lever elements described and assisted by the downward movement of the counterweights 52. This upward movement elevates the loops 86 and bars 87 carried by the arms 31 of the fork to bring the points 88 into contact with the table tops 89 to lift the latter from contact with the supporting bars 83 of the carriage. When this movement takes place it will be noted that the bars 87 are disposed between and parallel to the bars 83 of the carriage so as not to come in contact with the latter while removingr the articles from the carriage. Assuming the furnace door 46 to be opened at this time, either manually or by suitable automatic means, hand wheel 53 is rotated or its equivalent motor mechanism energized to project the fork and its load forwardly into the furnace chamber by means of the drum 66 and cable 67 in a manner heretofore described. At the eX- treme projected position of the fork hand lever 28 is again swung forwardly to lower the fork and its supporting fframe and deposit its load of ware in the furnace chamber; The act of lowering the fork brings the ends of the loop members into engagement with the shoulders 48 (Fig. 5) with the result that said loop members together with the bars 87 supporting the articles, are simultaneously deposited within the furnace without jarring or displacing the ware or its supporting means. In its lowered position the fork is then retracted out of the furnace by rotating the hand wheel 53 in the opposite direction and the furnaceV door is closed. While the baking process is in effect, the remaining carriage D is loaded with fresh articles to be baked, with the former of said carriages remaining in its adjusted position immediately above thel fork as heretofore eX- plained.

After the articles in the furnace have been baked to the desired degree of hardness, the furnace door is opened and the fork, while in its lowered position, is again projected into the furnace beneath the baked articles ar d the latter are removed from the supporting shoulis made possible by means of the spaced bars 83 being open at their ends to permit the passage therebetween of the parallel bars 87 having the points 88 which support the baked or unbalred articles or ware.

lith the fork, carrying the baked articles, .in retracted position above the iirst mentioned carrier l) as above pointed ont, the fork is lowered and the articles are deposited on the supporting bars 83 of the carriage, said fork at the conclusion of this movement being out of the path of the carrier (Fig. 2) to permit the latter to be energized by its motor to move the baked articles transversely of the fork and to the end of the trackway 78. The baked articles are removed and stacked in any desired manner and the reniaining carrier D, which has been loaded with freshly coated ware to be baked, is energized and moved into registry with the now retracted and lowered fork mechanism. The fork is again raised and the operation of recharging the furnace is repeated in the manner above described as long as it is desired to permit the apparatus to remain in operation for the purpose of charging the furnace with unbaked articles and removing baked articles therefrom.`

From the foregoing it will be observed that they present improvements constitute an improved longitudinally reciprocating article handling fork member which cooperates with a maximum eiiciency with one or more transversely movable carriers. The structure is such that no overhead parts are present in either the fork or carriage mechanism .which insures against the deposit of dirt or dust on the ware before it is burned which would otherwise cause black spots in the finished white coatings, and has been incident to structures heretofore'used for a similar purpose.

V] hat is claimed is l. In an apparatus for charging and unloading enameling furnacesthe combination of a vertically movable track support and a longitudinally reciprocable fork member carried thereby, said fork member comprising aligned beams parallel with said track and having flanged wheels contacting with the latter, guide members projecting upwardly from said track and having a rolling contact with the upper periphery of said wheels, rollers mounted on said track and contacting with said fork member, said rollersvcooperating with said guide members for maintaining said fork in a horizontal plane during the longitudinal reciprocation of the latter, a plurality of spaced loop members having their ends loosely resting on the aligned beams of said fork, and a plurality of spacedvbars dislposed in parallel relation'to the beams of said fork and loosely resting on said loop members, said bars having spaced upwardly projecting article supporting points adapted to receive articles to be deposited in and removed'from said furnace, means for bodily raising and lowering said track and said fork, v

Y and means 'for longitudinally reciprocating said fork relative to said track inal horizontal plane,-wherebyrsaid loop members Vand said bars are successively deposited in and removed from the lfurnace. `2. ln an apparatus infor charging and lunloading enamcling furnaces, the combination of a. vertically movable track anda longitudinally reciprocable fork member carried'thereby, said fork member including aligned beams 'disposed in parallel relation to said track, means carried by said track for maintaining said beams iii horizontal alignment during the longitudinal reciprocation of vthe platter, a plurality of transversely disposed spaced loop members carried by and having their ends resting on ythe aligned beams o' .l v said forlnav plurality' of bars disposed in parallel relation to the beams of said fork and looselyresting von said loop members, said bars having upwardly projecting article support-ing points adapted to receive articles rto be deposited in and removed from said furmeans carried by sai-d trackfor maintaining lsaid beams in horizontal'lignmei'itk during tney. longitudinal reciprocation of the latter, a pluralityof transversely disposed spaced loop members carrie-d by and -having their ends resting on the aligned beams of said` c orlnaY plurality vof-article supporting Vbars disposed in parallelrelation to the beams of i said fork aiidlooselyresting on said loop members, 'said bars having upwardly projecting article supporting points adapted to receive articles to be deposited lin and removed frein said furnace, whereby'provision i'forthe handling of articles of varying sizes is assured. l g Y ln testimonywhereof I aiX my signature.

LAWRENCE J. STEVENSONf` nace, mea-ns for raising and lowering said track and means for longitudinally recipros eating said fork, in a horizontal plane, where-- by said loop members and said bars aresuccessively deposited in and removed from the Y furnace.

3. In an apparatus for charging and uii-- loading enameling furnaces, the combination of'a vertically movable track support and a longitudinally reciprocable fork member carried thereby, said forkmember comprising y aligned beams parallel with said track and having iianged wheels contacting with the latter, guide meinbersprojecting upwardlyl from said track and having a rolling contactr with the upper periphery of said wheels, rollers mounted on said track and contacting with said fork member, said rollers cooperating with said guide members for maintaining said fork in a horizontal plane during the longitudinal reciprocation of the latter, a plurality of spaced loop members having their ends loosely resting on the aligned beams of said fork, and aplurality of spaced bars disposed in parallel relation to the beams of said fork and loosely resting on said loop members, said bars having spaced up-y 

